Well, you got the Blais situation all wrong.

Theres no way we extend Blais after season ending ACL injury.

Agreed. He was replaced by Hunt and Gauthier. If anything, they would offer Blais 1 year $1.6m prove it deal

With how tight our cap situation is, we have to cut our losses and take the L on the chin.

Im going to disagree.
I think blais gets locked to a cheap longer deal. He was playing well right before the injury, hes likely gonna be sitting as a 3rd /4th line with with some offense, who can move up if needed.

He cant be locked to a cheap deal. Hes a RFA and his minimum qualifying offer is 1.6m. Just forget it and cut your losses here. We got Hunt, Gauthier and Reaves... we will be ok.

id say the cheapest contract would be a nemeth-like contract. honestly hes a very good piece, a solid bottom 6 guy who can play on either wing, offers good depth scoring, and can fill in a top 6 role if needed

Im not disagreeing but hes coming off an ACL injury. In a tight cap situation its a bit much to lock up on him.

Theres a difference between the ACL injury he had, and something like Karlsson's ACL where it was cut by a skate. Blais at 1.8 x 4 is something we may do.
And as someone else said, blais can play up and down a lineup and that type of versatility is loved by GM's and coaches.
He hits hard, and can chip in some offense no matter what line he's playing on.

Hes not a top 6 player, thats what we need to focus on getting first. Blais is a guy that can fill in if someone is out for a few games or whatever, but hes not a permanent fixture there. As with Hunt, the more , Blais played in the top 6, the more and more he got exposed. Kakko is not going anywhere so thats one RW spot. Gauthier has played himself into a short term, lets see if this is real or not, extension which should be cheaper than Blais.

At the end of the day, its a tough pill to swallow, however extending Strome puts Blais out of the mix.

Secondly, I dont know what Karlsson had, but you cant cut someones ACL with a skate.

Erik Karlsson had a 70% laceration to his ACL via a skate.
id say that sounds like a "cut " to someone's acl.
For at least 2 years it reduced his skating significantly.

When did this cut happen? Was it when he was still with Ottawa?